BERKELEY: Authorities remain on scene at the Berkeley Garden Apartments investigating a structure fire to one of the buildings. We have no details regarding which building at 41 Frederick Drive was damaged at this time; but the fire has since been extinguished. This fire (unknown size) was reported to dispatch as having done significant damage to unit(s) in one of the buildings at the complex. The Ocean County Fire Marshall along with Berkeley Fire Prevention have been requested to the scene. Unknown status on any injuries or extent of damage to this building.

Stock Photo: Frederick Drive entrance to Berkeley Garden Apartments in Bayville

While we all see this stock photo above; this is US 9 @ Frederick in Berkeley. This traffic signal is new, and was lobbied for by local government. It is needed to ensure pedestrians can cross safely due to the apartment traffic and nearby Shop Rite. In typical New Jersey fashion, they stuck the traffic signal there on Frederick- but couldn’t be bothered to fix the opposite corner. Yes, the plaza owns that abandoned Shell/Texaco station as pictured, but how hard could it have been to realign? It appears to be as easy as moving those large concrete walls to begin.

Perhaps if our local leaders wanted to go the X-Tra effort to make us safer- they could have came to an agreement to improve the whole intersection. Have the plaza traffic entrance & exit ramps match Frederick Drive- then a simple intersection. Permit 4 way pedestrian walk phase with diagonal crossing permitted- while all vehicle traffic stops- similar to NJ 166 @ Washington in Downtown TR. Nope- cars making a left out of Shop Rite plaza can just find a ramp somewhere- and say a prayer it’s not T-Bone city.

Keep in mind none of us here at OCSN hold any traffic management or planning experience. However, looking at this corner for 30 seconds made it stick out how half-assed this was done- as a slap in the face to Berkeley. Well, maybe someone here can explain why this hasn’t or can’t happen yet? Please- only facts which can be OPRA’d; not just gossip you heard about the old gas station owner’s body is buried under that gas pump island- or crap like that.